Cadaver Wanders

Chapter 1

"A man who has once hath nothing gained everything only to lose all of it again..."

333 P.B.

In a world where wars and chaos were slowly engulfing the world, sprung a hero that extinguished the fire lit by humanity's mistakes, and spared countless nations from the cruel hands of the demon lord...

He, who was chosen; favored by the gods and goddesses, strived and thrived strugglingly until the force of darkness was purged, and peace was finally brought upon the place he grew to love despite the harsh past he experienced here on "Estaria."

Estaria... It is the kingdom where hate and love from within the depths of his heart blossoms.

His love was overwhelming to the point that it completely buried the hatred he had towards the land and its people. Had it not been for the love of his life, pulling him back on the right track, the man known as the Estaria's hero, he would have turned insane, and his wrath should have fallen upon the land.

And that man is, who has achieved what he had been yearning for in life...,

"Invictus!" He turned to see the prettiest smile he could find in the whole kingdom.

Beside the joyously wonderful and well-dressed lady whose right hand was waving at Invictus whilst the other was holding the tiny prim hand of a child was their daughter with a contagious sweet smile on her face, definitely delighted to see her father.

Invictus waved back at his beautiful wife and daughter, meeting them halfway and carrying his tiny girl, giving her a gentle kiss on her puffy cheek.

"How did my baby do at her magic class?"

His daughter's eyes brightened up at the question, clearly about to tell some stories to her father.

"I did great, father! Out of all the students in my class, I was the only one that answered the professor's question!"

She seemed really happy about it, which caused her parents to compliment her and give her another kiss on her flushed cheeks.

"Austria, baby, what do you want to eat?"Invictus asked, carefully carrying Austria with his right hand while he held his wife's hand as they walked to the side of the road.

The sunlight was bright, giving a different kind of warmth to the Estarian people as everyone went on with their everyday lives.

It was Sunday, a busy day for everybody.

"Hmm?" Austria pouted her lips, chucking her chin similar to what his father would always do whenever she was asking Invictus new things she was trying to learn. "Beef steak with ravioli soup!"

"Didn't you just have that yesterday for lunch too?" Her mother sarcastically said, pinching Austria's nose, which caused it to be reddened.

"Okay, beef steak with ravioli soup it is!"

"Jeez, you're really spoiling her, Hal."

Invictus smiled, "Weren't you the same, Hal?"

Invictus' grin was telling his wife about how he was so passionately spoiling her–especially in bed.

"What are you grinning about, father?"

"Oh, uh, it's nothing baby. It's between two adults."

Invictus brought his family to the finest restaurant in the capital, a place where only those in power and position, who were wealthy enough to hold a title to themselves, can eat. And being the hero of the kingdom gave him the privilege to eat for free in this five-star restaurant.

Wherever Invictus goes, people will always recognize him. There is no single Estarian that does not know him. Even from outside of the kingdom knows of his greatness.

"Welcome, Lord Invictus," the man who opened the door for them lightly bowed to him before showing them their table.

Inside the finest restaurant, nobles from different families were enjoying their scrumptious meal, casually talking to themselves, sharing business ideas, and idling about.

The servant pulled out a chair in which Invictus put down Austria. He sat down after gentlemanly preparing his wife's seat and looked at today's menu placed atop the table clothed with fine linen embroidered with gold silk.

"Uria, your button," spoke Invictus, noticing that Uria's, his wife's button had come off.

Invictus leaned forward over the table and did Uria's button himself.

In return, Uria thankfully smiled after seeing that her dress was slightly revealing her cleavage.

Patiently, the servant stood beside their table, waiting for Invictus to state their desire just so he could have them ready.

"For my baby, give her beef steak and ravioli soup."

"One beef steak with ravioli soup."

The servant wrote it down on a piece of paper.

"I will have some chicken stew boiled in honey fruit. What about you, Hal?"

Uria did not hear Invictus on the first call. She had fallen into a trance, completely lost in her thoughts when Invictus came snapping his fingers in front of her eyes, and she came back to her senses.

"Ah, I'll have the same thing as my husband will have."

"Are you sure? I thought you did not like it since it's got a weird taste to it?"

Chicken stew boiled in honey fruit was an acquired taste. Not many nobles that are regular in the restaurant like the dish because of its strange luscious taste.

"I think I'm craving something sweet."

Invictus found it strange but decided to brush it off.

"That is all. Thank you."

The servant bowed once again before going to the kitchen. From there, they could hear the food sizzling in the pan, and its aromatic scent has its own effects on everyone. It could either boost your appetite or make you hungrier than ever.

Having people looking at Invictus was not rare at all. He became accustomed to others just staring at him, admiring his greatness from afar, knowing the fact that he is the hero that relieved their kingdom of its sufferings.

Cheerfully, Austria was kicking her tiny feet in the air under the table whilst she was patiently waiting for her beef steak with ravioli soup to be served. Whilst waiting, she was looking at the restaurant's interior design.  Its magnificent painting was hanging on the wall, all black and white, yet so detailed. A fine work of art.

"Father," Austria began with her eyes glued to the king's painting, "can I meet the king?"

Austria sounded so interested in meeting the king. Invictus and Uria were not expecting their daughter to suddenly show zest in meeting the king.

Actually, it is the couple's fifth anniversary. Tonight, at their house, friends will come to their little party.